Padres (85-67, and trying to keep their heads above water in the Wild West)

Venable

Eckstein

Tejada

Gonzalez

Ludwick

Stairs

Torrealba

Headley

Young

Silent Night

The Reds were off last night, but it should be noted that GeneWV turned in another stellar off-day thread and RedFaced submitted some cool RedsOctober logos (I’m tellin’ ya, design #1 on a gray shirt, c’est magnifique). From what I understand, the team was in San Diego. I should have gone downtown and done some stalking, taking iPhone videos to share, but I couldn’t channel my inner paparazzi.

The Padres played up in LA, losing to the terrible Trolley Dodgers 3-1. Mat Latos was able to bounce back from his worst start all season, but still gave up three. Still, if Mat could do it, Johnny Cueto can too. Besides, Johnny has double letters in his name and Mat is just something you wipe your feet on. The San Francisco Giants retook first place in the NL West after they hunted and slaughtered the Cubs.

The Cardinals plundered the Pirates 9-2 even though Laynce Nix apparently got into the Pirate-joke strategy with us earlier in the week when John Fay quoted him thus: “It’s been driving me nuts,” Nix said.

Vote Votto to lift Joey out of second to overtake Chase Utley (a 4.5 Tool, max).

The Singin’ Slinger vs. the Rangy Righty

We’ve got Chamber-of-Commerce weather slated for this weekend. Coastal Eddy has finally been banished far off shore. I love this time of year in this city. So Bronson Arroyo brings his 16-10 record, 3.98 ERA, into pitcher-friendly Petco Park to face Chris Young (1-0 with a 0.90 ERA). Bronson is a good late-season pitcher and doesn’t 17 wins sound way better than 16? Either way, it’s a career high for the Singin’ Slinger. Arroyo is crafty, but all he really needs to know against the Padres hitters is (say it with me, folks) DON’T PITCH TO ADRIAN GONZALEZ!

Chris Young is making his second start since returning from the Disabled List with a strained shoulder. He pitched only four innings vs. the Cardinals (which is really only like 2 innings vs. a baseball team that shows up on time) last weekend. It’s likely that he’ll be limited in his pitches again against the Reds tonight, so look for a heaping spoonful of the Padres bullpen which is difficult for anyone to choke down. The Padres pitching staff boasts a 3.42 ERA for 2010, good for second in the Major Leagues (the Reds are 17th). That’s about as far as you need to look to see why San Diego is still in the playoff picture. Reds hitters need to … actually, I have no idea what they need to do to get some runs tonight. Hopefully the coaching staff has a plan. Seriously, even the Padres mop-up guy has a sub-4.00 ERA. See the ball, hit the ball, boys.

Schizophrenic Sales Pitch

The Padres Marketing Juggernaut is pulling out all the stops for this game tonight. Not only is it “College Night,” but it’s also “Padres Oktoberfest” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars Night.” They’re either way behind on their quota, they’ve been told to “milk this while we’re winning,” or there was a sale at the local Marketing Emporium. The crowds should be huge!

It’s Now or Never

The Padres might be playing extra hard to make it to the playoffs this season as they’ve just recently found out that former General Manager Kevin Towers will become the GM for their division rivals, The Arizona Diamondbacks. This is very bad news for a Padres team largely constructed by Towers. They’ll likely see the ‘Zonies rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the NL West sooner rather than later, so they’d better win now.

The Reds may not feel the same way about their division rivals in the Central. What teams to you see being worrisome next year and thereafter? Perhaps Houston. Maybe the Cubs will throw a bunch of money at some free agents to try to be relevant again. Can the Brewers capture lightning in a bottle again? Regardless of the competition, there’s never a guarantee in baseball, so if I’m the Reds manager, I tell the team that the 2010 season might as well go out with a bang

To me, Houston seems to be the team that may be able to threaten to emerge soon in the Central. I say this with no knowledge of who will be lost to free agency after this season though. Also, I think the Brewers could be good if they had some pitching. That's a big if in baseball though and I'm not sure what they have that is young and in their system already. St. Louis always has to be considered too. I have no faith that the Cubs will ever figure it out lol.

Great starter, as usual. I too am glad that Coastal Eddy has moved on a bit (although today is only the second day this week he has not been here). It's good to know that we had the coolest summer in history along the immediate coast--there had to be some plus to never seeing the sun before mid-afternoon the entire summer.

Amy may or may not need her sweatshirt tonight (I'm betting "yes" once the sun goes down)

I've been to the San Diego/Carlsbad/Vista area 2 times. I went extremely excited about the prospects of beautiful weather and both times I go to go outside for a Marine Layer in March and June Gloom. The time I went in June though there were a couple of really nice days, in fact I found it funny how everyone was complainging about the heat wave(It was 84 with no humidity to speak of while on the homefront it as 95 and humid).

Come to San Diego in Sept. or Oct. (or anywhere in So. Cal during that time) for the best weather of the year, IMHO. Actually, January can be great too, but it's more hit 'n' miss, as is all of Spring. We're going to have 81 deg. on Sunday and 84 on Monday here, but that's as hot as it'll get at the coast. And you're right about the humidity. Super low. Fire danger low, unfortunately, if the winds pick up.

I'm confident this is the beginning of something big for the Reds - like 5, 6 years of winning big. Next season, literally everyone can be back, besides perhaps Rhodes. And after that, it's everyone but Hernandez, Arroyo and Cordero.

Aside from that? EVERYONE on this Reds team is young and locked up. Like Tampa Bay, I think we're good for quite some time.

King Felix led the AL in wins last year, but has forgotten how to win this year. Terrible run support by a historically awful offense has nothing to do with it. He's just not that good. His win-loss record says at all. Just look at his performance yesterday. Although he only gave up one run through 8 innings, Price or Sabithia would have pitched a 15 inning shutout if necessary to get the win.

And speaking of the AL awards, who should get the MVP? Josh Hamilton was the frontrunner, but he's not gonna play in September. Miguel Cabrera has the best stats, but a lot of good it did the Tigers. Robinson Cano/Adrian Beltre/Evan Longoria all have great stats on great teams, but none of them stand out.

I'd probably lean towards Joe Mauer if it's not Hamilton, though I understand the stats don't look great (especially compared to last year). But I think what the Twins have done is amazing without Morneau, and that park isn't much of a power park.

On next year, i never really think about that until the season is over--old coach's thing. Game, season, at hand. I will admit it is tempting, and intriguing. Soon.

On the Reds at PETCO--you really can't change much in your approach in one series--can mess you up down the road. I would hope we try to steal a few bases, hit and run, take a few more chances--if they present themselves. Otherwise, as you say, see ball, hit ball, hope it falls in.

I totally agree on Gonzalez. He gets no real AB's unless the bases are empty, then he hits my pitch, or takes a walk.

Hernandez leads all MLB with 29 quality starts. For him to have only 12 wins is crazy and tells you he gets zero run support. He could easily have 20 wins if he pitched for a mediocre team and not a terrible offensive team.

The Dog/SD postcard is hilarious. I've sort of conscripted it from RPA for my own uses these days, since it makes me laugh every time I see it too. I just envision Ramon slowly photo-bombing the post card shot, coming in at the jaunty angle. Very Monty Python-esque.

Gene,
I just got through yesterday's off day thread and you were partly right. I could have written that open letter. I am a huge Marshall University, but since Marshall did not have a 4-year engineering program, I am a University of Kentucky Alumni. Lexington was only 2 hours from home. So I celebrate the victories of the Thundering Herd, the Wildcats of Kentucky and our Cincinnati Reds.

The Sabathia article was a joke, but what can we expect from ESPN. The Yankees are their bread and butter when it comes to baseball. They will write Pro Yankee stuff because they make a ton of money off of the Yankees. The same holds true for SEC football and Big East/ACC basketball. They have a lot of money invested in each and will spend extra time being extra positive toward certain teams.

I would call the piece irresponsible if it were anything other than opinion. He fails to metion Felix has 27 quality starts this season. He doesn't mention how Felix has pitched 26 innings against the Yankees and allowed 1 earned run. Let's not worry about decisions against other teams that are tops in their leagues. Who cares about the fact that Minnesota only has 4ER in 15IP against the guy. San Diego only managed 4ER in 15.2, we know how the Reds did against the guy. And that scarry Toronto offense mustered 1ER over 8innings. Yeah, he's never pitched against good competition at all.

No state income tax, no snow, no ice, the ocean is no more than 2hrs away, old people are great drivers,Spanish is fairly easy to learn and the Reds have spring training there. Sorry, never mind the last one.
Soccermom is at a convention and conference in your neck of the woods for the next week or so. Whatever will I do without someone to micro manage my cholesterol intake?

"Hey kids, see the chubby bald guy over there. You know, the one who thinks he's a funnyman. His wife told me, if I see him going to 5 Guys or Skyline, I should give him the same treatment I gave Mr. Ryan. That should be fun! Do you guys want to learn how to be a bully like your daddy?

"I do!. I do!" After that can we go see Mr. Larue and make fun of him for not being able to remember his name?"

it really doesn't take much to get get the conversation over to Carp and his son anymore...still laughing.

That no income tax and sunny weather attracts a holes and trash of all sorts. How do you think my mom got here. Often we are the subject of some political or criminal punchline. The pros and cons are a wash.

Can't wait to talk with some friends who moved to C-Bus last month. One was a FL native. I want to see her point of view especially when the weather turns.

Don't worry Grizz, it'll happen. Those 20 interviewers are probably going to take 3 months to make their decision. The job that you will eventually get will be the one that you forgot about a few months before.

And not to beat a dead horse, but I was talking about this the other day with someone and I got to thinking - this was the 20th concussion for LaRue. He didn't retire because of Cueto; he retired because of Cueto and the 19 other times he was concussed.

This is not unlike me popping my tires, burning out my engine, losing all my doors, and then getting upset and blaming you for 'totaling' my car when you throw a rock at the windshield.

"It's important to note that I am not an attorney and none of what follows should be construed as legal advice"

Haven't read the article yet, but felt the need to post that first line. Now I know I'm in for something good. Only one good reason for someone w/ a legal background to continue on at this point.....and that's for the hope of a decent laugh.

So back to seeing what he has to say.....Alright, well, about halfway through....dude can suck it.

Yes, if Cueto intended to kick LaRue in the face, he probably could be maybe liable for something. If he intended to thrash around violently with the intent to injure something, he could be liable. If he recklessly kicked around and was oblivious to possible harm, he could be liable. However, this would be the case if Cueto just walked up to LaRue and did this.

But there is no way to show intent here. And self defense is clearly the best defense. And it was a brawl. I have no idea what this dude is talking about.

An actual explanation of law-
Self-defense in tort law:

While the principles of self-defense at tort law are similar to those at criminal law, the mode of analysis, and areas of emphasis differ. In general, self-defense is valid when a person has reasonable grounds to believe that he is about to be attacked. Under these circumstances, he may only use such force as is reasonably necessary to protect against the potential injury. Since only reasonable ground are required, a genuine mistake with respect to the attack will still support the right to self-defense. Once the attack or tort has ended, so does the right to self-defense. Retaliation is never permitted.

As at criminal law, there is generally no duty to retreat, and deadly force may be used to prevent death or serious bodily harm. Even in the minority jurisdictions which require retreat (like Pennsylvania), there is an exception to the requirement if the victim is in his home. Although the attacker has no right to self defense, if the attack is non-deadly, and the victim responds with deadly force, the aggressor may defend himself with deadly force.

Basically, dude wrote the article in a bubble. One problem is that he assumed intent to do harm to LaRue, and went from there. Another problem is that he only talks about making a claim, doesn't really acknowledge how quickly this claim would be dismissed once defenses were brought up.

And then he looked at assumption of the risk. I mean, clearly, LaRue could have a claim, and the judge would then ask Cueto for his defenses. This guy just kind of stops at LaRue's claim.

I totally agree a Judge would let LaRue make the claim, and pass the burden of defending the claim onto Cueto. Once self defense was raised as a defense, the case would be dismissed.

Your honor,I was trapped with my back against a fence when Mr. Larue and several of his cohorts approached me with the intention of givin me the "William Wallace Treatement." Rather tthan run the risk of getting drawn and quartered I thrashed my feet around a tad bit.
Dismissed !

NM, I accidentally believed his argument. Assumption of the risk is a defense. So I have no idea why he talks about it but not other defenses. His entire point was that LaRue could make a claim, but he doesn't speculate on whether LaRue would win.

I agree w/ that. Lots of people could make lots of claims, but typically people are smart enough to not file those claims when they know they will lose.

Hehehe. You see, Grizz -- that's the thing about being a law student/rookie lawyer -- you're still in the analysis mode -- think about it hard and tear it up and down.

After you've been doing this for a while, you'd look at the article and think: "Well, that's stupid. There's no way LaRue could ever win that case . . ." and you'd just dismiss it. Five minutes of your time as opposed to a half-hour. Wait, someone wants to know _why_ it wouldn't succeed? Well, that'll take a little longer and that's not free.

The idea is to win the World Series, no? To do that, you have to beat the best teams, meaning we would likely have to win a series (5 or 7 games) against them anyway. And you'll have to do it with the Phils having home field anyway.

Reds can beat any team in the NL IF they pitch well and get good production out of their outfield bats. a fluky play here or there can be the difference in the postseason. Worry not about the Phillies. Worry about Jonny Gomes (speaking of which, see that Redleg Nation talked about his statistical stinkery in LF this year?)

1.) I don't believe we can beat the Phillies. So I'm hoping San Fran/San Diego does for us. Is that rational? Probably not. But it's how I feel.

2.) I've got a ticket to Home Game #2 of the NLDS. We get home field, I'm DEFINITELY going; we don't? I'm faced with two scenarios where I don't get to see a Reds playoff game, which would be the highlight of my sports attending life.

And don't think I haven't thought about the scenario where we go up 2-0 in a series on the road and suddenly I'm tempted to root against the Reds so a game 4 happens. I don't want to deal with that temptation.

It's two-fold for me. I want the extra home games if the series goes longer as well as home field.

Plus I am hoping the the first series will force say Halladay to throw the last game of that series and keep him from going game one of the NLCS. I realize you have to beat the best teams but the match-ups could change depending on how the two series unfold which may or may not align better for the Reds. I know, a lot of if's and's and but's but just the way my mind works. Home field is really the main reason I would like to see them finish with the second best record.

By the way, Timmy, I know you said we should worry about Gomes. But it's weird - it's only been two years, but I just can't bring myself to criticize Jonny Gomes. I really think he may be my favorite post-Larkin Red.

I didn't mean for this to happen. I really didn't - but I measure my fandom by how quickly I'll jump on a player for their mistakes. And not once this year (or last) have I been mad about something Gomes has done. I make excuse after excuse after excuse for why he plays badly, like a parent who knows their kid is a turd but defends them to their teachers at school anyway. As much as I've loved Dunn and Sean Casey and Brett Tomko and Leake and Felipe Lopez and Bronson Arroyo and even Ken Griffey Jr., no one but Larkin and Gomes have received the 'I have nothing bad to say about them' territory.

I too, do not really care who they play in the first round, but would love to see them play at home. If we do have to make a road trip, I'd much rather have to play in San Fran or San Diego. In a playoff starved city, the more games played here the better in my opinion. It would do wonders for the Reds to have a packed house and the stadium rocking for the first 2 games of the postseason.

It seems to work for the Pirates so maybe the Padres as well:
A Padre is delivering his sermon and explains that next week's sermon is about lying. He asks the congregation to read Mark 17 to prepare for that sermon.
The following Sunday, he begins the sermon by asking "who read Mark17? Nearly every hand went up. The Padre says "Mark only has 16 chapters, so here is my sermon on lying".

Ha! There isn't a preacher alive who hasn't pulled this trick before! When I was a youth minister, I used to make crap up and tell them it was in Ephesians 7 or Philippians 6, just to make them learn how to find those books in their bibles.

Sister Christine of The Carpenter went to live in the Monastery of silence.
Padre Phillip, the rector of the Monastery told her she was allowed to speak only two words every five years.
Five years later,Sr. Christine spoke the words,"hard bed".
Padre Phillip ordered a new soft mattress for her.
Five years after that she spoke the words,"cold coffee'.
The padre bought a new coffee maker for the dining area.
Five years further down the road she muttered ,"bad food".
A new cook was brought in to cook for the nuns and padres.
The next time she spoke five years later,she said,I'm leaving".
Padre Phillip replied,"That's fine and it's a good thing. You've been nothing but a WLB for the last 20 years.

As someone who had the benefit and agony of 12 years of Catholic education,I feel that I can take a well known nun/priest joke and adapt it to our needs. Sr. Theodosia would give me a jab in the ribs with her pointer for that one, but deep inside I think she would be proud.

I think I will be searching for employment in a couple of months. I REALLY like the recruitment commercial for California that comes on Fox Sports Cincinnati almost every game. Dennis and Mary have me almost sold anyway with the "82 and sunny with low humidity" angle. Now if I can just find an employer that wants a 45-year old sports junkie who knows a thing or two about computers...

I've been waiting for the Reds to get to the playoffs for so long, I really don't care who we play where. I know I should be concerned, but I look at it this way. Which other team in the NL Central could beat the teams ya'll have mentioned (SD, SF, Philly)? Looks like no one mentioned ATL and the Reds have not played well in Turner Field the last few years, either. I like the Reds' chances wherever they play in a 5- or 7-game series. I just think they have more "Want to" this year.

Cardinals whipped the Cubs again, so we have to make the move on our own.
At least they won't clinch on Fox on Saturday; AAT might stroke out if he has to miss it when it happens. I'm guessing now that it will be Tuesday evening at GABP (Tweet Night).

I imagine getting on an airplane is not too good for a sinus infection either; even if the cabin pressure works as designed, the simulated altitude is usually around 8000 ft when cruising at 30,000 ft or so (at one point in my career, I actually designed ECS/BA/CP system for commercial aircraft--that's environmental control systems, bleed air systems from the engine to provide pressurized air to the Cabin Pressure system). On one twelve hour test flight for certification of a new large capacity aircraft I had a bad cold and, as as result of futzing around with varying the cabin pressure still within the specified allowable range, I ruptured my eardrum. Not fun.

I would hope the idea is to try to get this thing over with ASAP, and often continuing to work can extend an illness. I think of ML baseball players along the lines a friend of mine describes her show jumper horses (with a lower weight)--as "1000 pound butterflies" meaning that they are incredibly fine tuned, but fragile

I know, I know. I really do and there are varying degrees of sinus infections. I was ok with it the first day, the second day and with the off day and what not coming up I thought hey why not get 3-4 days off, they'll hit him with some antibiotics and he'll come back refreshed for San Diego when the Reds will NEED him. Well I guess that's my issue. I feel the team NEEDS him this series. Just wish he could come back. I'm a hard-ass by nature though so I'm sure I'm being too hard on Joey and the team is likely being too soft for the reasons you all state- and they are good reasons. I just wish he were on the field is all.

Only way I would take K-Rod is if the Mets pay his buyout after that obscene 17.5M option is declined.

Call me crazy, but I would like to see Ramon back, no Gomes, no Nix, no O-Cab, Carl Crawford in LF, Valaika at 2B and BP on another team. Use the money to sign Votto to a 7year/90M extension.

Nice work on the legal explanation of self-defense in tort cases. The idea that there are different standards of justifying actions in civil and criminal court is probably lost of most folks. Good luck with the job search, someone's gonna get a good lawyer when they hire you

on second thought, I say no altogether on the proposed trade. F-Rod's option vests with 55 games finished. Before this year, he finished over 55 games every season since, and including, 2005. What a horrible contract. How is Minaya still employed?

Well, yeah, I guess I could have said that, clearly they'd have to trade the players and in essence keep the contract. Mets pick up the tab on K-Rod for next year and the buyout, Reds do the same for Coco.

If things get worse for Coco here down the stretch or in the playoffs, I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen.

As for what central div foe will be the biggest competition next year for the Reds I'd have to say without a doubt it has to be the Cards. They will still have their pitching in place basically - which is their strength. I'm assuming they resign Albert (if they don't then I see no competition but St Louis will still likely be the best of the rest). The Cards will likely add some smaller pieces to try and improve the offense also. The Astros seem to be in rebuilding mode and although they have played well down the stretch this year I don't see them being able to sustain it for an entire season. The Brewers are in decline some also, they will likely lose a bat or two and they have no pitching. Pittsburgh is no closer today than they have been the last 17 years - perhaps even further away. The Cubs are still declining - Too much payroll - too little production - not enough youth to replenish yet. They might level out next year but I don't see them having a winning season.

My 2 State Championship teams were not the best teams in the state, or, certainly, the best teams in the state tourneys. Other teams knocked off the better teams, and teams we did not match up well against, so we win the championships.

I had at least three other teams better than my championship teams, all of which got beat out because of match-up problems. One of them was definitely the best teams in the state, the other two at least second best.

Moral of the story--it's about match-ups, IMHO, not who is best. Same holds true in baseball, me thinks.

Preacher and lawyer arguing, a little like our preacher and lawyer ( lightly, of course ). Frustrated, the preacher says " I will be so glad when I get to heaven, because there will be absolutely no use for lawyers up there!"

Smart a-- lawyer calmly says, " Hate to disappoint you, but there will be no need for preachers up there either!"

Giants beat the Rockies, 2-1. Their pitching has been lights out. How do you keep the Rockies to just one run in September (rhetorical, of course, you simply don't let them play at home with the non-humidor balls

hate to pick on hanigan, but that little flip he does with his glove before the pitch is released cost him there. His glove is always moving when he receives a ball. It's a small thing but an important detail.

You know what's frustrating? Watching a guy labor through two batters, falling behind 3-1 (and grooving one) and then giving up a walk... and then after yet another ball, the next two pitches are high and out of the strike zone and the Reds swing at them.

What do they think they're gonna do with those pitches? Not one guy has a hit on a shoulder high fastball tonight, but both Cabrera and Bruce thought they could. I don't get it.

Does anybody get as pizzed about this as I do? I really don't want to stop following him b/c he works his tail off, but I don't follow him to get preached to about attendance. I'm in TN, I can't fix it.

3-2 count, bases loaded, two outs, one run up--Masset gives up a base hit and the lead

I'm turning in after that--talk to you all in a couple of days. Looks like it's possible I may get to see the clinching game after all, since the only ones I am going to miss while I go to Colorado tomorrow are the Sat and Sun games

You guys get that crap and I have to listen to Thom read copy written in corporate babble speak, technological environments, core competencies and other crap that makes people in offices sound a hell of a lot more important than they really are.

3-2 count, bases loaded, two outs, one run up--Masset gives up a base hit and the lead

I'm turning in after that--talk to you all in a couple of days. Looks like it's possible I may get to see the clinching game after all, since the only ones I am going to miss while I go to Colorado tomorrow are the Sat and Sun games

SAN DIEGO – Aroldis Chapman(notes) was summoned from the bullpen one batter too late to make a difference in the game. No matter. The 22-year-old Cincinnati Reds left-hander made do by making history Friday night, throwing the fastest pitch recorded in a major league game, a 105-mph fastball.